I recently had to play BTO's 'Takin Care of Business'.. probably one of the easiest drum parts ever... but couldn't find any info on the web of what percussion instrument or 'thing' they used to get the steady '16th note tapping pattern' throughout the song. I'd describe it as the sound of knuckles tapping on the palm of your hand..
- does anyone know for sure what they used?

I recently had to play BTO's 'Takin Care of Business'.. probably one of the easiest drum parts ever... but couldn't find any info on the web of what percussion instrument or 'thing' they used to get the steady '16th note tapping pattern' throughout the song. I'd describe it as the sound of knuckles tapping on the palm of your hand..
- does anyone know for sure what they used?

Sounds like two Canadians clapping after a few Molsons and listening to a Cha-Cha.

Yes I think you're right.. maybe a combination of a drum machine sound doing the 16ths with handclaps playing a pattern on top. I checked again and you can hear it clearly at 3:54 ofhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmwic9kFx2c

Maybe I'll just ask Randy.. he takes lots of questions on his awesome radio show.

Yes I think you're right.. maybe a combination of a drum machine sound doing the 16ths with handclaps playing a pattern on top. I checked again and you can hear it clearly at 3:54 ofhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmwic9kFx2c

Maybe I'll just ask Randy.. he takes lots of questions on his awesome radio show Vinyl Tap.

"Great technique! This will probably be taught in music schools for generations to come. Not to milk this, but drummers will want to know if the jug was 2% or chocolate or gallon sized or what type of napkin was used :o)

Pinging this again in case anyone missed it. I got the answer directly from 'the man' ... the rock legend himself - Randy Bachman.

This info was not posted anywhere on the web.. and may have been lost forever... until now!

Up until now, the most well-known piece of TCOB trivia was that the piano part was played by the guy who was delivering pizza to the studio, who just happened to know how to play piano, and who just happened to show up when they were thinking that a piano would sound nice on the track. [Only recently did I learn that this was not true, just an 'urban legend']